Overview
Newbury and Thatcham are adjoining towns in Berkshire's Thames Valley, combining a historic market town's character with commuter-town convenience. Newbury's ~42,000 population is anchored by Vodafone's world headquarters, while Thatcham holds the distinction of being England's fastest growing town.
Architecture · Day Trips · Family Travel · History · Museums
Before you go
Accommodation
Budget B&Bs like Guywood (from £34 single) and Alma House (double £65) are available. The DoubleTree by Hilton near M4 J13 offers mid-range accommodation with parking.
Food
Newbury has independent restaurants (Gurkha Chef Nepalese), chain eateries, and carveries. Rural destination pubs like Crab & Boar and Yew Tree draw visitors from surrounding areas.
History
Newbury was site of the Greenham Common peace camp (1980s) and the Newbury bypass road protests (1990s). The town is birthplace of Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear.
Transport
Great Western Railway serves Newbury and Thatcham stations on the Reading–Bristol line. Newbury Bus Station has local services plus one daily National Express coach to London.